Method of making a container



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METHOD OF' MAKING A CONTAINER Filed Deo. 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALFRED Binnen Feb. 3, 1959 A. BINDER y 2,871,553

METHOD oF MAKING A CONTAINER Filed Dee. 13, 195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 I6 26 L l N a 52 B a EK I i s 5 45 46 v f1.5 -3 v.fig-1: 44- .'44

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. 4ALFRED Binnen.

v BY vm @-7 @5/W A. BINDER METHOD OF' Feb. 3, 1959 MAKING A CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 13, 1956 .www mm Vm y www m M L T A W United States Patent 2,871,553 METHOD F MAKINGA CONTAINER Alfred Binder, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Sherwin- Williams Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio l Application December 13,' Serial No. 628,028

Claims. (C l. 29-451) This invention relates, as indicated, to an improved method for making a container, yand more particularly to ya method of making ametallic container having a nonmetallic spout attached thereto. y

The dramatic increase in the household use of liquid vdetergents as well as a multitude of other compositions which can be packaged in metallic containers has highlighted the need for a dispensing device which meets not only the requirements of the material contained, but also the requirements of the plants'producing and/or packaging such materials. The liquid detergents, for example, do not lend themselves readily for packagingl in widemouth containers. Consequently, the'top portion of a tin can, for example, comprises a reducing neck and a relatively small'diameter spout. The fabrication of these devices from metal, while not particularly complicated in and of itself, introduces problems in the rapid feeding of such entirely metallic devices tothe top-affxing machines, because such tops with the'p'rotruding spouts are diicult to handle due to their generally unsymmetrical configuration. They are hard to feed from a bulk storage and difficult to transport through conveyor'lines.`

To answer the problem of convenient dispensing and `a non-corrosive spout, the industry has adopted many forms of plastic spouts or nozzles. One'of the properties afforded by polyethylene'o'r polypropylene, for example, is that it can be made into the 'so-called' dripless spout by providing the outer lip with 4a chamfered flange. To date, however, such polyethylene or polypropylene nozzles have been Aattached to the metallic container top portion, and the thus lproduced top-nozzlek assembly then rolled onto the can body by suitable machinery. Again,

the can fabricator is dealing with an unsymmetrical object which is difficult to handle.

There is, therefore, a need for a method of lmaking a completed container, and more particularly a method for providing a metallic container body with a non-metallic spout which will enable the emplacement lof such nonmetallic spout in the metallic can `body after all the metal work has been done. Y

It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to

provide a process for making a container, and more particularly afxinga non-metallic spoutto a metallic can body wherein the metal portion of the container has been completely fabricated prior to the attachment of the spout. I

Another object of this invention is to provide'a method for externally inserting and attaching a non-metallic spout to the top of a metallic' container in which'top there has been provided a rimmed circular opening 'of diameter substantially smaller than the diameter ofthe can body. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a process for making a metallic container having a non-metallic spout, which process will enable the' isolated emplacement ofthe spout members at a--point remote from the place where the .metallicl portion` of the container "has been previously fabricated.lv

the container.

"ice

. 2 This applicationis related to my co-pending application Ser.. No. 622,389 filed November.y l5, 1956 describing and claiming a structure for a spout of the type useful in carrying out the process of the present invention, said co-pending application having for an object the provision for an externally insertable nonmetallic spout assembly.

Other objects of this inventionI will appear as the, description proceeds. p l j In the annexed drawings7 Fig.- l is a diagrammatic -ow sheet illustrating the process `of fabricating the metallic portion yof the containers with which the Apresent inventionis concerned and the affixing thereto of the nonmetallic spout, testing and packaging the ynished` containers. A

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary .cross-sectional illustration of the principally functioning portion of a machine adapted to aix the non-metallic spout members to a metallic` container body having a rimmed circular openinginone end thereof. 4. *y y.

Figs. 3 through 7 are .fragmentary cross-sectional views of the principal positions sequentially assumedby the non-metallic spout members during the operation of insertion into the rimmed circular opening of a metallic can body as influenced by certain insertion tool members.

Fig. 8 shows a portion of a metallic container having the non-metallic nozzle affixed thereto. j y

Fig. 9 shows in greater detailas a fragmentary crosssection,` the top of a metallic container' having the nonmetallic spout members aixed thereto.

Figs.. 10 and ll show cross-,sectional views of spout assemblies contemplated for use in accordance with the present4 invention. v

ln4 discussing the method provided by the present invention, it is convenient to consider rst thevnature of the ,spout assembly itself 4and then to discuss the process for `prising a generally ytubular body 4v having a mouth 5 at its upper en-d, a threaded portion ti intermediate its eX- tremities, and a flange portion 7 shown internally of In dotted lines there is further shown a retaining ring or hollow cylinder member 8 which is adapted to tltightly within ,thegtubular body .4.

Fig. 9 shows in somewhat' better detail the structure of the Yspout composed of the combinationof the nozzle 3 and the retaining ring 8'. Thefinner walls 9 of the tubular body d are, itwill be observed, substantially nontapering. By the term substantially as used in this connection, is meantvthat such minor deviations from nontapering as evidenced by the non-drip lip 10 and its inward protrusion, and such inward protrusion as may appear in flanges more particularly shown in Figs. l() and ,ll do not destroy theI non-tapering aspect. The retaining ring 8 is able to negotiate or pass over the inward protrusion of the dripless structure l0 without substantial difficulty, due tothe deformability of the plastic employed. Also, as shown in Figs. 4-7, there may bean annular detent 5t] provided which locks into a corresponding-groove S1 in the retaining ring 8. This structure is to be regarded as embraced within the term substantially non-tapering.

Also shown inlFig. 9 are means for retaining a cap such asvthreads 11 located intermediate the ends of the tubular body 4. It is obvious that other cap retaining means, such as, detents may be employed.

In the lower portion of the tubular body 4 there is provided a groove 12 defined by a pair of shoulders 13 and 14. The circumferential groove 12 is desirably of `a diameter such that contact with the rimmed circular opening of the metallic container is made. The lowermost shoulder 14 defines a ange 16 at one extremity of `said tubular body 4. The diameters of the shoulders 13 and 14 are greater than' that of the circular opening 15. The diameter of ange 14, while greater than the diameter ofthe circular opening 15, is further such that the flange 16 is capable of passing through the opening 15 upon application of deforming force in an axial directionA In the preferred case, the shoulder 13 may define a flange 17 which may have a diameter, as shown in Fig. 9, greater than the opening 15 and greater than the maxi- -mum diameter of the flange 16. In practical usage, it is desirable from a standpoint of handling these nozzles in a storage hopper to have the ange 17 of larger maxi- In Figs. 10 and 11, modification of the device shown in o Figs. 8 and 9 is illustrated. In Fig. 10, for example, the flange 16 is provided with a radially inwardly directed portion 20 having a diameter less than the internal diameter of the tubular body 4. The upper face 21 of the auge 20 may be so shaped as to engage the champfered face 18 of the retaining ring 8 and provide a seat for said retaining ring. It will be observed that the metallic portion of the container 22 is shown with a downwardly rolled opening 23.

In Fig. l0 there is also shown a modification of the retaining ring 8 wherein there is provided a frangible disc 25 closing the opening through the retainer ring 8. In some cases it is desirable to provide an inner seal for uid contents, which seal is to be broken by the consumer.

In Fig. 11, the metallic portion 22 is shown as an upwardly rolled opening 24. The flange portion 16 of Fig. 1l' is again somewhat differently shaped from that shown in Fig. l0, causing the retaining ring 8 to be disposed in a position somewhat short of the bottom of the tubular member 4. By the application of downward pressure on the retaining ring 8, the retaining ring 8 may be very tightly forced against the ange 16 and its inward protuberance 20, causing the tubular body 4 to be tightly locked to the rimmed opening 24.

The non-metallic portion of the container, i. e., the spout, composed of the nozzle and retainer ring, may be fabricated most conveniently from polyethylene or polyproylene. The procedure for making such nozzles is a well known plastic molding procedure utilizing a twopiece mold. Other materials may be used for the fabrication of both the nozzle portion and the retaining ring portion such as, for example, butadiene-styrene synthetic rubber, butadiene-acrylonitrile synthetic rubber, natural rubber, neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.

The spout assembly is axed by a simple press to the metallic container having a relatively small diameter opening in the top thereof (relative to the diameter of the can body). The nozzle portion is threaded onto a cylindrical member having a shoulder which can abut against the upper or dripless edge 5 as shown in Fig. 8, for example. Axial pressure will therefore force the flange 16 through the rimmed opening 15 by causing a deformation of the deformable plastic. When the flange 16 has passed the obstruction provided by the rolled over rimmed opening 15, it returns to its former shape and becomes retained within the opening by the engagement of the rimmed portion between the shoulders 13 and 14. The shoulders cooperate to prevent both inward and outward movement of the nozzle 3 with respect to the rimmed circular opening 15. In order that the nozzle 3 may not be removed from the rimmed opening 15 by a chance oblique blow directed at one side of the nozzle 3, for example, the retainer ring 8 is sent home in the same operation by a smaller plunger operating within Vthe device for seating the nozzle 3. The amount of travel of the plunger for seating the retainer ring 8, as is well understood, can be regulated. With the retainer ring 8 in position, deformation of the tubular body 4 is prevented to an extent sufficient that the spout cannot be easily dislodged from its location in the rimmed circular opening.

The retainer ring 8, as indicated above, may be made from the same material as the nozzle portion 3, a stiffer embodiment of the same plastic (e. g., a higher polymer of polyethylene), or it may be made of a rigid material such as metal, fiber, or a resin impregnated paper. The O. D. of the retainer ring is such that a tight sliding fit is obtained with the I. D. of the nozzle 3.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l,`this is a flow sheet of diagrammatic nature, tracing the fabrication of the metallic portion of the container to the emplacement of the non-metallic spout assembly, and final packing of the container. The process begins with plate stock which may or may not be lithographed, as desired. The plate stock is slit on a conventional slitting machine and then fed into a forming and side seaming machine. From this machine, the hollow cylinders pass through a anging device which places flanges at either end of the hollow cylinder. The next machine places the bottoms on the hollow cylinder and seams the 'two members together. The can then passes through a top seamer where top members having a rimmed circular opening therein are seamed to the remaining end of the can body.

At this point, the metallic portion of the container is complete. The following operations may be performed at a place remote from the plant wherein the metallic portion is fabricated. This is, of course, permissive and not essential, as the entire operation may be performed at one location.

The metallic can bodies are then passed through a machine which aixes the spout assemblies by external application. The. containers with the spouts in position are then tested and then packed. The portion of the process up to the aflixing of the spout assembly is con` ventional, the equipment, procedure, etc. being well known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing metallic containers.

Heretofore, the member which was seamed to the top of the container was not simply a flat or conical member having a rimmed circular opening therein as in the present invention. 'The top member which was seamed by conventional procedures and equipment to the top had previously had affixed thereto a nozzle or spout. This could have been of either .the metallic or non-metallic type. This invention departs from convention in that top members of either a flat or conical cross-section have not had previously atlxed thereto a nozzle or spout member. If the spout member was to lbe rolled into place as one means of anchoring the same, it was necessary to make the top-nozzle assembly before attachment to the can body. Even in the case of non-metallic spouts and' nozzles composed of one or two members, prior practice has been .to attach the nozzle or spout to the top member before seaming to the can body. One device utilizes a retainer ring having a large flange at one end. Thus must necessarily be inserted from the under-side of the top member, indicating that the. operation must be performed prior to the seaming of `the metallic top portion to the can body.

The handling of top members with the nozzles or spouts in place is diicult because of the unsymmetrical nature ofthe object and the poor nesting properties of the assembly.

The process with which this invention is concerned, then, is one for making a container comprising a metallic can body, a metallic bottom seamed to one end, a metallic top having a rimmed circular opening therein seamed to the other end and a non-metallic spout, comprising the steps of (1) substantially axially aligning (a) a resiliently deformable plastic nozzle having a tubular body with substantially non-tapering inner walls and a flange at one end of diameter larger than that of said circular opening and capable of passing therethrough upon application of deforming force, and (b) said me- .tallic container, in iiange-to-rimmed circular opening relationship, (2) applying force in an axial direction to deform said plastic and move said flange through said openu ing to lock therebehind, and thereafter (3) telescoping within said nozzle a retaining ring adapted to be friction- Lally retained within said nozzle and to prevent substantial deformation of the nozzle in the region of said flange.

rvReferring more particularly now to Fig. 2, there is shown in cross-section the operative elements of apparatus for effecting the emplacement of the deformable plastic nozzle and the retaining ring. As shown in Fig. 2, the spout assembly has already been seated into the metallic can body 26. In Fig. 2 there is shown a clamp 27 rotatably and slidea'bly mounted on a shaft 28. The purpose of the clamp 27 is to pick up can bodies 26 from a supply line, revolve about the shaft 28 and so position the can body 26 as to enable it to receive the nozzle 25. Means, such as a spring 29, maintain the clamp 27 in an extended position, but allow lateral movement of clamp 27 'along the shaft 28. Mounted independently, but in cooperative alignment with said clamp-shaft assembly, is a collar-follower assembly 30 composed of a collar 31 and a follower 32. The follower 32 is shown as mounted on a shaft 33 which telescopes into a sleeve 34, suitable means such as a spring 35 operating to maintain the follower in contact with the can body unless force is applied to the follower in the direction of the arrow 36. Any suitable means fo-r actuating the follower may be provided. The face of the follower 32 is provided with a suitable adapter 37 adapted to engage the bottom of the can 26. It is removable such that it can be replaced with another adapter 37 to accommodate a container of different size.

The collar assembly 31 attached .to the other end 38 -of the shaft 33 is adapted to receive and support the rimmed circular opening39 of the can 26 in a suitable complementally shaped ring 40. The ring 40 is recessed into a suitable holder 41, the inner structure of said recess adapted to receive the ringed end 42 of the clamp 27. It is through the ring 42 that the rimmed circular opening 39 of the can 26 protrudes.

Opposite the collar assembly 31 and in cooperative axial alignment therewith is a coaxial sequentially operating dual plunger 43. A central fixed plunger 44 is provided with a shoulder 45, the diameter of which is more than the internal diameter of the retaining ring 8 shown in Figs. 8, to ll, but less than the I. D. of the nozzle 3. Coaxially mounted with respect to the fixed plunger 44 is a moveable plunger 46, the I. D. of which is greater than the O. D. of the retainer ring 8 but less than the O. D. of the nozzle 3. Springs 47 maintain the moveable plunger 46 at its full extension. The fixed plunger 44 is mounted in a base 48, the extension of which may conveniently form a base for the shaft 28, and a shoulder 49 against which the spring 29 is permitted to bear. Since there are various size containers to be fitted and spouts to be emplaced, the collar assembly 31, the adaptor 37 and the dual plunger assembly 43 and the ring 40 may be changed for properly sized equivalent parts, screw fastening means being provided for each element.

In-operation, a can body 26 is picked up by the clamp 27 from a feeder line, diagrammatically represented in Fig. 1, and positioned over the collar assembly 31. The restraining force operating in the direction of the arrow 36 on the follower assembly 32 is released and the follower allowed to contact the bottom of the can body 26. Additional force applied in the direction opposite to the arrow 36 forces the follower assembly and the clamp in a direction toward the dual plunger assembly 43. Previous to the operation, the dual plunger assembly 43 has been provided with a deformable plastic nozzley 3 having in its outer end a retainer ring 8, leaving the flanged end 16 (referring to Fig. 8) free to be deformed under allowing the shoulder 45 to force the retainer ring 8 into position adjacent the ange area (16) of the nozzle 3.

When the retainer ring 8 is thus emplaced, deformation of the nozzle 3 of the ange 16 is prevented.

For a clearer depiction of this operation, reference may be had to Figs. 3-7. The fixed plunger 44 is shown in each of these figures in various stages of projection -within the body of the container 26 fragmentarily shown.

The nozzle 3 and the retaining ring 8 are also clearly shown in the various positions during insertion. The shape of the moveable plunger 46 in Figs. 3 through 7 is slightly different from that shown in other figures, al-

though it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the shape of the moveable plunger is not. critical. In Fig. 3, therefore, there is observed a nozzle 3 with the retainer ring 8 in position at the outer end 5 of the assembly. The movement of the container 26 toward the fixed plunger 44 has not yet been suflicient to cause deformation of the nozzle 3. In Fig. 4, the initial deformation has occurred, and the moveable plunger 46 has caused the partial seating of the ange 16 behind the rimmed circular opening 15. The retainer ring 8 has not yet begun to move. In Fig. 5 the flange 16 is completely seated behind the rimmed circular opening 15, and the moveable plunger 46 has begun to move against its springs 47 not shown in Figs. 3-7. This causes the shoulder 45 to bear against the retainer ring 8, effectively telescoping the retainer ring 8 inwardly toward the flange 16. In Fig. 6 the movement of the can body-spout assembly is complete, and the retainer ring 8 is now in its ultimate position in back of the ange 16, effectively stiffening said ange 16 such that it is not easily deformed by the application of force. In Fig. 7 the can-spout assembly has been withdrawn and only the tip of the fixed plunger 44 is visible. The spout assembly has thus been externally emplaced in a metallic can body having a rimmed circular opening 15.

Figs. 4 through 7 also show an additional modification of the retainer ring wherein there is provided detent means 50 on the inner wall of the nozzle 3 and a detent receiving groove 51 in the retainer ring 8( The detentgroove combination serves to lock the retainer ring 8 in the proper position within the nozzle 3.

'Afterthe spout yemplacing operation has been com` pleted, the containers may then be tested for leakage or pressure retaining ability and either filled and capped.'

with a suitable closure, not shown, or packed empty for`A shipment to the filling site.

It should be pointed out that in Figs. 3 through 7,`

7 forced apart, and thereby release the container 26 from their grip. This is another modification of the collar assembly 31 and the moveable plunger 46.

It will be observed, therefore, that there has been provided a process for attaching a non-metal resiliently deformable plastic nozzle to a metallic can body after the metallic portion of the container has been completely fabricated. Sometimes it is desirable to ll the metallic container before emplacing the spout assembly. 1t is only with a system of the sort provided by this process i that the operation of filling a metallic cor ier can precede the attachment of the spout assembly. After the attachment of the spout assembly, then, of course, a suitable closure is provided, e. g., a screw top cap.

The process of this invention also obviates the ditiiculties encountered in trying to feed metal tops having spouts or nozzles affixed thereto to a seaming machine. Where the tops are without nozzles or spouts, they nest considerably more easily and are thus handled with greater simplicity. The spout assemblies which are used in accordance with the present process are easily handled from a hopper, since they are substantially symmetrical.

There has been provided, also, a process for the manufacture of containers of the commonly recognizable liquid detergent class capable of containing, for example, l2 uid ounces. These containers are usually lithographed cans, the lithography having been done While still in the plate stock stage prior to slitting. These containers are conveniently fitted with nozzles having an I. D. of approximately 1/2 inch to approximately 3A inch and a height of about l inch. The usual material for the nozzle is polyethylene, and the usual material for the retainer ring is also polyethylene of somewhat higher molecular weight and, therefore, somewhat stiffer consistency. The metal portion of the container may have a diameter of 211/16 inches and a height of 51/2 inches.

As previously indicated, the retainer ring S may have a length of from about 30% to about 100% of the length of the nozzle 3. To facilitate operation it Will be found convenient to partially telescope the retainer ring 3 with in the nozzle 3 before threading the assembly upon the fixed plunger 44. So long as the operation of partially telescoping the retainer ring 8 leaves the iiange region, i. e., that area between the flanges 16 and 17 (Fig. 9) unsupported or unretained, the extent of such partial telescoping may be anything which is convenient. in the case of a retainer ring having a length equivalent to about 30 to about 50% of the length of the nozzle 3, the ring may be telescoped from the outer end until one VOther modes of applying the principle of this invention F may be employed instead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made as regards the details herein disclosed, provided the elements set forth in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed. It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as the invention:

l. A process for making a container composed of a metallic can body, a metallic bottom seamed to one end, a metallic top having a rimmed circular opening therein seamed to the other end, and a non-metallic spout, cornprising the steps of l) substantially axially aligning (a) a resiliently deformable plastic nozzle having a tubular body with substantially non-tapering inner walls and a flange at one end of a diameter larger than that of said circular opening and capable of passing therethrough upon application of deforming force, and (b) said metallic container, in ilange-to-rimmed circular opening relationship, (2) applying force in an axial direction to deform said plastic and move said flange through said opening to lock therebehind, and thereafter (3) telescoping within said nozzle a retaining ring adapted to be frictionally retained within said nozzle and to prevent substantial deformation the nozzle in the region of said ange.

2. A process in accordance with claim l in which the retaining ring is relatively stiffer than the resiliently deformable plastic nozzle.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the resiliently deformable plastic nozzle has one end havinga circumferential groove defined by a pair of axially spaced apart shoulders having diameters greater than that of the circular opening, the shoulder next adjacent the extremity of said nozzle dening a flange capable of passing through said opening upon the application of deforming force and the other end having a threaded portion adapted to receive and retain a cap.

4 A process in accordance with claim 3 in which the flange capable of passing through said opening upon the application of defo-rming force has an internal diameter less than that of the plastic nozzle.

5. A process for making a container composed of a metallic can body, a metallic bottom seamed to one end, a metallic top having a rimmed circular opening therein seamed to the other end, and a non-metallic spout, cornprising the steps of (l) substantially axially aligning (a) a resiliently deformable plastic nozzle having a tubular body with substantially non-tapering inner Walls and a ,flange at one end of diameter larger than that of said circular opening and capable of passing therethrough upon application of deforming force, said nozzle having a retaining ring partially telescoped therein and adapted to be frictionally retained within said nozzle, no portion of said retaining ring being in the region of said flange, and (b) said metallic container, in flange-to-rimmed circular opening relationship, (2) applying force in an axial direction to deform said plastic and move said flange through said opening to lock therebehind, and thereafter (3) further telescoping said retaining ring Within said nozzle to position it in the regio-n of said flange whereby to prevent substantial deformation of the nozzle in the region of said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,329 Fialip Apr. 29, 1941 2,632,236 Dodge Mar. 24, 1953 2,660,780 Beck Dec. 1, 1953 2,687,831 Miller Aug. 31, 1954 2,713,713 Tubbs July 26,1956 2,760,691 Henchert Aug. 28, 1956 2,762,537 Reinhardt Sept. 11, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION latent NoL7 238712553 February 3, 1959 Alfred Binder It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 39 line 59, for "proyleu'leH reed E propyleh m; o'olurrm wf line 71g for Thus" read 1x-This mm.,

Signed and. sealed this 18th day of August 1959,L v

i SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT C. WATSN KARL E0 AXLINE Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

